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Winemaker's Notes

Full of the bright flavors of red spring berries. Notes of black pepper and clove add complexity. The mouthfeel is lush and ripe with a lasting youthfulness. This delightful wine was barrel aged in 15% new French Oak for six months.

Rex Hill Winery

Rex Hill has been making elegant Pinot Noir for 30 years in Oregon's Willamette Valley. The landmark winery is located at the gateway to Oregon's wine country and welcomes visitors daily to their historic tasting room. Estate vineyards, including the crown jewel, Jacob Hart Vineyard, are farmed to Biodynamic tenets and the winery itself is L.I.V.E. certified. Now owned by the families at A to Z Winewords, the Rex Hill legacy of superior Pinot noir continues. The group brings combined Oregon winemaking experience that spans more than two decades and three continents, as well as high energy, commitment and love of Oregon Pinot Noir.
View all Rex Hill Wines

About Willamette Valley

Named for the river that runs through the valley from Portland to Eugene, Willamette Valley is home to some of the best Pinot Noir vineyards in the Northwest. While along the same north/south line as Seattle, the Willamette Valley is protected from Pacific rains by the Coast Range on the western border and the Cascade Ranges to the east. Though sunshine is typically plentiful, rainfall can occasionally be tricky, and the wines here vary vintage to vintage. Within the Willamette Valley are are number of sub-regions, including McMinnville, Dundee and Yamhill.

Notable Facts

The valley is known for its Pinots – Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris. With a climate similar to Burgundy – in rainfall, sunlight hours and other climate factors – Pinot Noir has flourished here. Pinot Noir in Oregon produces wines that are fruit forward, yet complex, some with good agebility.

Other than Pinot Noir, many wineries grow Pinot Gris and Chardonnay. Pinot Gris from Oregon is delightful in its texture and food friendliness. Chardonnay in the valley adapts well to the cool climate and produces lean, elegant wines.

About Oregon

Oregon has long been an agricultural state, producing everything from hazelnuts to cattle. The Willamette Valley in particular is a fertile basin for all sorts of produce. Not quite pegged as a wine state, in 1965, a UC Davis graduate named David Lett decided that the Willamette's climate mirrored that of Burgundy in France. With that in mind, he decided to plant some Pinot Noir clones to see how they did. And a good gamble it was. The Willamette is now one of the only regions in the world to focus solely on Pinot Noir as its red variety. Also known for Chardonnay and Pinot Gris. The southern part of Oregon has been slower in delving into the world wine market, but has been making excellent strides with their Rhone style varietals, like Syrah and Grenache. There are also coastal regions producing promising wines.

The 2012 Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir reflects a ripe vintage with intense color and nose of blueberries and red
currants. The smells are redolent of forest floor earthiness. The flavors are round, of beet root and mushrooms, with pleasant ...

Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noirs stand out for their effusive aromatics. This 2012 is highly perfumed with dark fruits, and
floral characteristics. On the palate, this trend continues with flavors of cherry, dark berries, and a hint of black pepper. ...

This flagship Pinot is hard to beat. A combination of rich red fruit flavors with freshness and vibrancy unique to
Pinot Noir grapes grown in the beloved Willamette Valley, this wine truly reflects the character of this region. We think ...

Alcohol By Volume Guide

Most wine ranges from 10-16% alcohol by volume. Some varietals tend to have higher (for example Zinfandel and Cabernet Sauvignon) or lower alcohol levels (Pinot Noir and many white varietals), but there is always some variation from producer to producer. Some wine falls outside of this range, for instance Port weighs in closer to 20%, while Muscat and Riesling are usually a bit below 10%.

Wine Style Guide

Light & Crisp

Light to medium bodied wines that are high in acid and light to medium fruit. Typically no oak.